Marines Need Submarines: Commandant Neller On Major War

The USS Warner under construction in Newport News, one of the last two shipyards in the US able to build a nuclear-powered submarine. SAN DIEGO: Why does the Marine Corps Commandant want an attack boat? “As a naval force, part of a maritime campaign, we need more attack submarines ,” Gen. Robert Neller said at the AFCEA-USNI WEST conference. Commandant Robert Neller (right) and Chief of Naval Operations John Richardson together at a previous WEST conference. Why? “I want to get where I’m going,” Neller said to laughter from the audience. “A bunch of lance corporals with M4s on the flight deck are not going to help me out.” In other words, if the amphibious warships carrying the Marines are to make it to striking distance of a hostile shore without being sunk , they need an escort of Navy submarines and aircraft — and (though Neller didn’t mention this last one) probably al...